INJURY-RAVAGED Simon Jones wasn’t given a choice when his career was curtailed and the 2005 Ashes icon is seriously dismayed with the behaviour of exiled England batsman Alex Hales.

Jones missed the fifth and final Test of the historic triumph in 2005 and would never play for his country again, a career wrecked by countless operations and failed attempts to return to action.

By contrast, Hales has imposed his current predicament on himself – a second breach of recreational drugs policy leaked to the press and leading to him being booted out of World Cup contention.

“It’s hard to watch someone throw it away, and that’s why I’ve been so frustrated by this,” said Jones, speaking at the unveiling of a mural in Cardiff city centre that gives fans the chance to win World Cup tickets.

“He’s let the lads down and it’s caused such a disruption this week, they didn’t need that in the build-up.

“It’s embarrassing, isn’t it, for the lads to have this fall on their laps just before the World Cup starts.

“Eoin was very direct, very honest and that’s how it should be. Things like this can’t be tolerated. You don’t do stuff like that, you’re an example to young kids.

“Alex was a massive part of that squad, he’s a such a destructive batsman and I can only speak well of how he played the game. He epitomised England’s fearless mentality.

“It’s so frustrating to see this happen – the mind boggles, honest to God. He’ll have to live with it now and go back to Notts.

“His opportunity to show what he can do, express himself on the biggest stage, has gone. He’s got a heck of a lot of work to do to rebuild the trust in him.”

Jofra Archer has English cricket eating out of his hand and fellow paceman Jones is another wooed by the native Bajan’s early displays for his new side.

Archer made a promising debut in last week’s narrow victory over Ireland and followed that up with two wickets on T20 international debut against Pakistan on Sunday.

With a five-match ODI series against Pakistan still to negotiate before Trevor Bayliss and Eoin Morgan name their final World Cup squad, Jones thinks Archer’s inclusion is a formality.

“Archer has got to play,” said the Welshman.

“He’s got that x-factor, he’s shown he can deal with the pressure on big stages in the World.

“He bowled quickly in Ireland in cold conditions. He can do it all and to have him in the squad is sensational, I can’t wait to see him play.

“I don’t see why that bowling line-up can’t bowl out the best sides in the world. They’ve got pace, spin and options, they bowl with control and are experienced in one-day cricket.

“I think they can bowl teams out comfortably.”

ICC Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour, driven by Nissan, commences 100-day tour of England and Wales and will be at over 100 locations and events before arriving back in London ready for the opening match on May 30